Rotary pressing machine control



y 1960 R. L. DUGGER 2,938,286

ROTARY PRESSING MACHINE CONTROL Filed March 16, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

RALPH L. DUGGER United States Patent 2,938,236 ROTARY PRESSING MACHINE CONTROL Ralph L. Dagger, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to The Unipress Company, Incorporated, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Mar. 16, 1956, Ser. No. 572,017

10 Claims. (Cl. 38-5) This invention relates to rotary pressing machines of the type having a plurality of individual presses mounted on a platform of low elevation which is arranged to rotate on a vertical axis. Such rotary pressing machines are exemplified in Patent No. 2,669,044 and various other patents of the prior art.

All modern pressing machines of this type, as exemplified by the aforesaid patent and other patents of the prior an: utilize individual presses having a cooperative stationary buck and movable presser head, the latter being normally biased to open position and connected to the motor so as to be moved toward and against the buck for cooperating pressing action when the motor is energized. The motors of such presses are usually of the fluid operated type, or more specifically, air-cylinders operated by compressed air. In rotary presses the valving of the air to the individual presses is usually accomplished by a master valve on each press which, in one position introduces air to the motors in another position, exhausts the air from the motors and permits the press to open. In such rotary pressing machine the operation of the master valve is accomplished either directly or indirectly by cams as the rotary turntable revolves, the objective being to close each of the presses at a certain point along the rotary path along which the presses are carried and then, at another point to open each press. The several available modes of accomplishing these objectives have not always been satisfactory especially in respect to cost of manufacture and operation of the devices.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved rotary pressing machine having an improved mode of press control.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved form of sequence control for each press of a rotary pressing machine.

Other and further objects of the invention are those inherent in the invention herein illustrated described and claimed.

The invention is illustrated with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is plan view of a rotary press which is illustrative of the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view, partly schematic of the pressing machine of Figure 1, this view being taken along the line and in the direction of arrows 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a developed view of the cam path and cam operators of the apparatus of the invention;

Figure 4 is a schematic view of one pressing machine of the pressing machine shown in Figures 1 and 2 and the controls therefor, being shown enlarged;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view corresponding to a port of Figure 4, showing a modified form of control;

Throughout the drawings the same numerals refer to corresponding parts.

In general it may be stated that rotary pressing machines of the type of which the present invention is an of the press to close it, and

2,938,286 Patented May 31 1960 improvement consist of a rotary turntable of low elevation that is adapted to be placed on the floor and upon which there are mounted a plurality of individual pressing machines. The individual presses may be of the laundry or garment pressing type and may have the same or different types of bucks and heads for pressing the same or different portions of garments or laundry items. While rotary pressing machines of this type may be built as a unitary structure, for ease of manufacture and reduction in cost it has been found that ordinary individual air driven, steam heated, pressing machines of a design that are normally mounted directly on a floor, may be used to advantage, such individual pressing machine being mounted in regularly spaced relationship around the periphery of the rotary turntable of low elevation. In such mechanical organization the presses are thus rotated one at a time in front of an operator station. At or slightly ahead of the operators station, each press is automatically controlled by its rotary movement so as to actuate the press to open press position and the operator may, without moving from her position, remove the pressed garment and lay an unpressed garment on the buck. Usually the rotation of the pressing machine rotary platform is continuous (but it may be operator controlled), the removal of the pressed garment and replacement of the unpressed garments on the bucks of the several presses being effected while each press moves at its regular pace in succession thru the operator station. Then as each press of the pressing machine progresses in succession along its rotary path of motion it reaches a position adjacent to but slightly beyond the operator station where provision is made for automatically actuating controls of each press to cause the presser head to move against the buck into pressing relationship therewith.

It is in this class of pressing machines that the invention hereinafter described constitutes improvements. For purposes of illustration, but not by way of limitation there is herein illustrated a rotary pressing machine resembling that shown in the Patent 2,669,044.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figures 1 and 2, the pressing machine includes a central floor plate 10 which is adapted to be placed or bolted upon the floor 11 on which the pressing machine is installed. Upon the plate 10 which serves as central stationary pivot there are mounted a suitable bearing 18 which is mounted in the center hub 16 of the circular rotary frame plate 17. The bearing 18 serves as a thrust bearing and pivot bearing so as to receive the weight load at the center of the rotary frame plate 17 and provide a center of rotation.

The plate 17 is preferably of circular shape and near its periphery it is reinforced by ring channels 21 which are positioned so that their flanges are oppositely directed and are of such a diameter as to leave a space between the webs of the flanges. Within this space are mounted a plurality of wheels 22. Greatest rigidity is provided by placing two or more of the wheels 22 under each of the presses that are mounted upon the rotary frame plate 17 so as to steady the plate 17 against vibration due to the opening and closing of the presses. Plate 17 may, is desired, have radial stiffening webs not illustrated in order to increase its rigidity. The wheels 22 may have rubber tires, if desired, and the wheels 22 may run directly upon the floor 11 where the floor has sufiicient evenness. Where the installation is made on a rough or uneven floor 11, it is preferable to place a'circular sheet metal track 24 on the floor along the path where the wheels 22 track. The axis of each of the wheels 22 is radial in respect to the central pivot axis.

For rotating the circular frame plate 17 and all elements carried thereon, there is provided a belt 25 which may be a chain belt, as shown in Figure 1, which passes over aeseaas a pulley 26 that is mounted on radial arm 27, the arm being pivoted at 28 to the floor. An adjustment screw 30 mounted in the stationary bracket 31, is positioned so as to bear against the arm 27 so as to move it arcuately and thus permit tightening or loosening of the belt 25. The belt 25 also runs over the driven pulley 32. The pulley 32 rotates at slow speed and is preferably driven by an electric motor 34 through a gear box. It is preferable to use a motor 34 which is capable of speed variations, such as a wound-rotor repulsion induction motor, a shunt type direct current motor or the like. it is perfectly feasible to utilize an air driven motor 34 for constant or variable speed application where such is desired. The .On-Ofi and speed controls for motor 34 are appropriately selected for controlling speed and operation of the motor 34 and may be mounted on a panel 46 which forms a vertical fence at the left of operator station 37.

Heating of the presses is accomplished via steam line 4'9, condensate water being returned via line 50. Air under pressure is delivered to the presses via line 48. Each of these lines is concentric with the axis of rotation of the turnable 17 and is provided with a rotary gland as at 48A, 49A and 50A, as is well known.

Upon the rotary base 17 there are mounted a plurality of pressing machines generally designated A, B, C and I) in Figures 1 and 2. Any suitable number of pressing machines greater than one may be utilized, depending upon the size and capacity of the unit and the type of work desired to be done by means of the installation. Four pressing machines are shown in the illustrated embodirnent of the invention and are spaced evenly around the rotary frame plate 17. The rotation of the frame plate 17 is in the direction of the arrow 35 and rotation of the drive pulley 32 is shown by the arrow 36. An operator station indicated by the floor pad 3'7 extends through approximately one-quarter of the circular path of motion of the floor plate 17 and presses AD mounted thereon. Adjacent the terminating edge 38 of the operator station, there is provided a protective guard 40 which likewise extends through approximately onequarter of the path of rotation of the floor plate 17 and the presses mounted thereon. The guard 40 roughly defines the position of a press at the closing station, it being understood that the guard extends somewhat ahead of and behind the position at which the presses close at the closing station and is sufi'ic-iently high so as adequately to safeguard any person from introducing members of their body into the press while the press is closing. From the termination of the closing station, which is at the position approximately shown by press D in Figure 1, and continuing in the direction of arrow 35, there is a portion of the path of motion during which the pressing part of the cycle takes place. During this portion of the cycle the pressing head is closed down upon the buck and is held down (closed) so long as line air pressure is maintained on the air motor of the press. The opening station is between the position in which press B is shown in Figure l, which is still closed, and the leading edge 41 of the operator station. At the opening station each press is opened by discontinuing the application of line air-pressure and exhausting the air motor of the press, whereupon the press will then be opened by its springs (not illustrated), as is well known.

Adjacent the leading edge of the guard 40 there is a. control panel generally designated 46, which serves as a fence, and on which the On-Off controls of motor 34 and speed controls therefor, and Emergency controls, are located convenient to the operator.

The presses'A-D (or any, number which are mounted upon the rotary floor plate 17) may be of any desired individually power driven presses. Present day presses are usually air driven and in the embodiment of the in vention herein illustrated, the presses A-D are of the type shown in Patent Re. 22,041, although it is to be understood that any suitable one or two cylinder air press, or other power driven press may be utilized. Thus, for example, the presses A-D can be single cylinder air driven presses of which the type shown in Patent 2,265,449 is exemplary, or they can be multiple air cylinder presses.

In the exemplified showing of the invention illustrated in Figure 2, each of the pressing machines includes a frame 52 which is suitably attached to the circular revolving frame plate 17. In the presses shown, each has a press frame and upon the frame 52 is mounted a stationary buck 54 and a presser arm 55 which is pivoted at 56. The presser arm carries a presser head 57 which is movable from an open position (as shown for press A at the left in Figure 2), to the closed position (as shown for press D at the right Figure 2). The movement of the press from open to closed position and from closed to open position is accomplished by means of air or other fluid motors suitably controlled as herein described.

In Patent Re. 22,041, which explains the operation of presses of this type, the air motor (here a two-cylinder air motor) for operating the press is energized through two-hand control valves that are (in the case of an individual press) located near the front of the pressing machine on the work table beneath the buck. In the present instance the individual control valves of the press are entirely discarded and the valving of compressed air to the press motor and shut-0E and exhaust of the air from each press motor is automatically accomplished by a rotary valve which is provided on each press and sequentially operated thru a step-by-step motion.

The manner in which this is accomplished is illustrated v, in Figure 4 which shows one press and the motors thereof schematically and diagrammatically, along with the controls therefor. In Figure 4, the line 17 represents the rotary turntable which rotates about the vertical axis C-L as previously described. In this arrangement the press faces outwardly (or to the right as shown in Figure 4).

V Each press has a buck 54, a cooperating presser head 57 carried by the presser arm 55 pivoted at 56 on the press frame of which portions are shown at 52. The press is shown Open and when air is introduced thru air line 80, into cylinders 58 and 61 the press closes bringing the head 57 against buck 54. Cylinder 58 is the closing cylinder and squeezing cylinder 61, which acts thru linkage 64, 65, 66, 55, and cam slot 68 causes great pressure to be exerted by the head 57 against the buck 54. When air is exhausted from line 80, springs (not shown) move the head and associated linkages and the air-motors 58 and 61 to the positions shown. This is explained in detail in Patents 2,669,044 and Rs. 22,041. It is to be understood that any press mechanism requiring the application of air under pressure to the press motors, for press closure and release of such air pressure from the press motors, for opening, may be used. The particular form of press shown is merely illustrative. According to this invention each press is provided with a rotary valve, here generally designated 100 which is arranged to be rotated thru' sue cessive preferably equal, increments of turning movement as the turntable 17 on which the press (in common with other presses) progresses thru its rotation. The valve 100 can be designated as a step-by-step sequence rotary valve. This valve 100 has two active positions namely for applying air to line to close the press and for exhausting such air from line 80 to open the press. In addition the valve has one or more inactive (blank) positions between the exhaust position and the succeeding air application position. The valve may thus be characterized by'having an exhaust position which is followed by one (or more) safety positions during which air is not applied to line 80, and such safety position (or positions) are followed by the air application position; In addition, for engineering reasons the valve 100 is preferably made so that there are two such sequences in succession for one turn of the air controlro'tor of'the valve.

In the illustrated form of valve 100, it has a casing 101 and a rotor 102. The rotor 102 has one air passage 104 which can be brought in succession to any one of six positions spaced at 60 intervals. The full line position is shown at 10481 (first series, safe position). The next position is 104A1 (first series, air application to branch line 80-1 of line 80) and 104E1 (first series, exhaust position). The second series of positions are 10482 (second series, safe position); 104A2 (second series, air application to branch line 80-2 of line 80) and 104E2 (second series, exhaust). Air under pressure is applied at the arrows marked Air which is to say, to ports 105-1 and 105-2 in the casing 101. The air may be exhausted via arrows marked EX, at parts 106-1 and 106-2. Line 80-1 connects to port 107-1 and line 80-2 connects to port 107-2. Port 107-1 is connected via branch 109-1 to port 110-1 and port 107-2 is connected via branch 109-2 to port 110-2. The rotor 102 is shown as having exaggerated clearance in casing 101 but it will be understood as fitting sufficiently tight to act as a valve in casing 101, as the rotor is turned to bring the channel 104 to its successive positions. The rotor 102 is shown as being in the form of a wheel but this is merely for illustration; a disk rotor may be used, and indeed separate valves may be utilized so long as, when appropriately manipulated the functions herein described are accomplished.

When the rotor 102 is rotated such that channel 104 is in position 10481 there are no air connections made or broken. Therefore, the buck and the presser head remain in the same relative positions that they were in immediately prior to the time the channel was moved from position 104152. This is a safety or preparatory position. There may be several such safety positions in sequence. When at position 10481 the line 80-2 (and hence line 80) has already been exhausted and the air motors 58 and 61 are in the positions shown with-the press open. By virtue of action sequence stepping action, which will be described, rotor 102 is rotated one step from position 104132 to position 10481. This is a safety or preparation position. Then as turntable 17 continues to revolve rotor 102 is moved another step to position 104A1 and air under pressure enters via port 105-1, passes thru channel 104 (which is then at position 104A1) and enters port 107-1 (and also fills passage 109-1 and port 110-1) and line 80-1 and line 80 with consequent application of air to motors 58 and 61 and the press closes. The exterior surface of rotor 102 is smooth except at channel 104 and this blocks off exhaust ports 106-1 and 106-2 and also closes the supply port 105-2.

Next, after the pressing portion of the cycle is completed, and after turntable 17 has revolved to another place, farther along the rotor 102 is stepped around to position 104131 and lines 80 and 80-1 (and hence air motors 58 and 61) exhaust via port 107-1 to channel 109-1 to port 110-1, thence thru channel 104 of rotor 102 (now at position 104E1) and via port 106-1 to atmosphere. The press then opens due to its bias springs (not shown).

In the embodiment shown, there is one half turn of rotor 102 (as from exhaust position 106-1 to exhaust position 106-2) for each complete turn of turntable 17. The second sequence of positions for rotor 102 (namely 10482; 104A2 and 104E2) are simply for the next turn of the turntable. This was done because it is easier to rotate the rotor 102 step-by-step thru 60 of turn than thru 120 of turn. It is mechanically feasible, but less practical to rotate thru 120 of rotation, and it is also possible to use more than two series of steps (ports), but it is unnecessarily complicated to do so.

Step-by-step rotation thru 60 of rotation per step is accomplished by providing rotor 102 with a shaft 115 which extends and is provided with a six notch ratchet wheel 116. On shaft 115 there is provided a freely oscillatable lever 117 provided with a spring pressed pawl 118 which engages the ratchet wheel notches. Lever 117 is connected by link 119 to a cam engaging lever 120 pivoted at 121 on press frame 52. The lever 120 hangs down below turntable 17 and is generally tangential to a circle of motion (under turntable 17) along which a series of three cams 125, 126, and 127 are located. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be noted that cam 125' (which is the preparation or safety position cam) is located so as to be engaged after the press in question has reached a safe position behind guard 40-46. Then, shortly beyond (in the direction of rotation 35) cam 126 is located and this marks the press closing station. Note that in Figure 4 lever 120 has already passed over (and has been lifted by) cam 125 and thru link 119 and ratchet lever 117 and pawl 118, the ratchet wheel was moved around 60 to bring channel 104 of rotor 102 from position 104E2, at which the press had been opened, to position 104S1,where the press is already behind fence 40-46 (Figure 1) and the air valve is moved to the safety position, in preparation for press closing actuation to the next position 104A1. The lever 120, link 119 and ratchet lever 117 have meanwhile subsided and will, as the turntable rotates steadily in the direction of arrow 35, soon engage cam 126. When this occurs, ratchet wheel 116 and hence rotor 102 are moved around another 60" of turn and the channel 104, being then brought to position l0'4A1, will apply air to the press motors and close the press.

Referring to Figure 3, the circular path of location of cams 125, 126 and 127 is here developed. The portion between cams 125 and 126 is the guarded portion of the press travel, protected by fence 40-46. Between cams 126 and 127 the press remains closed. At cam 127 the press opens and between cams 127 and 125 the press remains open and the operator station is located.

Referring to Figure 5, in this modification the link 119 is replaced by a pneumatic actuator in the form of a piston 131 cylinder 130 arrangement and its control valve 132. This permits ratchet 116 (and hence valve to be mounted up in the press frame where otherwise convenient. Valve 132 has an air supply port 133 which is connected to delivery port 134 (and exhaust port is then closed) when stem 136 is raised by lever when it engages cams -127. This delivers air to-cylinder and raises lever 118. When lever 120 subsides, valve 132 vents port 134 (and cylinder 130) to exhaust 135 and lever 118 subsides. The action of the pressing machine assembly as such, is as previously described.

As many apparently Widely different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific embodiments herein.

The form of the invention shown and described must be considered only as illustrative. Many variations within the scope of the invention illustrated, described and claimed will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the invention is therefore not to be limited except as stated in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A rotary pressing machine comprising a rotary turntable having thereon a plurality of presses each of which has a buck and a presser head, the latter being mounted on the press for movement toward and from the press open position in which the presser head is away from the buck and a press close position in which the presser head is against the buck, each press including motor means connected to the presser head for moving it, a control for said motor means having a plurality of positions, said control connected to the motor means and mounted for unidirectional movement through said plurality of positions, and control operator means responsive to the movement of the turntable for moving said control sequentially to a position in which said motor means is actuated to the press open position, then to at least one intermediate safety position in which the press remains in an open position, thence to a subsequent position in which said motor is actuated to the press close position, and then to a position in which the motor means is actuated to a press open position, said control operator means including means connected to said control for moving said control unidirectionally through said plurality of positions.

2.. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said control includes a rotary valve and that said control operator means includes a connection to the rotary valve for moving said valve through the aforementioned plurality of positions.

3. A rotary pressing machine comprising a rotary turntable having thereon a plurality of pressures each of which has a buck and a presser head, the latter being mounted on the press for movement toward and from a press open position in which the press head is away from the buck and a press close position in which the presser head is against the buck, each press including motor means connected to the presser head for moving it, a control for said motor means having a plurality of positions, said control connected to the motor means, and control operator means responsive to the movement of the turntable for moving said control sequentially through a position in which said motor means is actuated to av press open position, then through at least one intermediate safety position in which the press remains in an open position, thence through a position in which said motor is actuated to the press close position, and then to a position in which the motor means is actuated to a press open position, said control operator means including a ratchet gear connected to the control.

4-. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in which said motor means is an air motor and said control is an air valve means.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said control operator means is a mechanical control.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further characterized in that said control operator means includes a pneumatic linkage.

7. A rotary pressing machine comprising a rotary turntable having thereon aplurality of presses, each of which has a buckand a presser head, the latter being mounted on the press for movement toward and from a press open position in which the presser head is away from the buck and a press closedposition in which the presser head is against the buck, each press including air motor means connected to the presser head for moving it, air valve means connected to said motor means, said air valve means having a first position in which said air valve means exhausts the air motor means and the press moves to press open position, at least one intermediate safety position in which the press remains open and a subsequent position in which air is applied thru said air valve means and the press moves to press closed positionand a single oscillatable control operator apparatus for sequentially operating said air valve means thru said first, intermediate and subsequentpositions sequentially as the rotary turntable revolves thru one rotation.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that a guard is placed around that portion of the path of motion of the presses on the rotary turntable wherein the air valve means of the presses are actuated thru said intermediate and said subsequent positions.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that said air valve means is a rotary valve and is connected to said control operator apparatus so as to be operated step-by-step thereby thru its operating positions.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that said air valve means has at least two sets of said first, intermediate and subsequent operating positions and said control operator apparatus is connected to said air valve means for moving it thru one set of said positions for one revolution of the turntable and thru another set of said positions for the next revolution of said turntable.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,022,951 Cohen Dec. 3, 1935 2 632,965 Leef Mar. 31, 1953 2,669,044 Maxwell et a1. Feb. 16, 1954 

